Phonograph Monthly Review, Vol. 1, No. 11 (1927-08)

The Phonograph Monthly Review ...\jtss ■■u'■* 1 ■- ■ ■■ « .. . .. tions of 79299 and one, Tango Talango, on 78860. Cruz Leon duetize on the other side of 78860 and on both sides of 78344. Among the singers are Sansirena and Delfin (78511, 78580, 78861, and 79342); Mariano Melendez (78663, 78664, 78862, and 79125); Nestor de la Torre (78597); Maria Reyes (78580); Llaurado and Espigul (79343). The remaining instrumental organization is the Terceto Yoyo which plays La Virgen de Regia and El Cangrejito on 78578. Anyone interested in Cuban music should not let these records pass by. MEXICAN Perhaps a few hints made here lately that the Victor Mexi- can lists did not contain so many good things of late as formerly was the case have spurred on the artists and com- pany to do unusually good work this month. The list is long and brimful of excellent numbers. First of all comes a splendid release by Juan Pulido, whose Mexican version of the Volga Boatman’s Song was the subject of some comment here a month or two ago. We can hardly flatter ourselves that our own remarks on Mr. Pulido’s breath control could have been taken to heart so soon, as this record in point this month was probably made before our advice was published. But in any case, in 79248, and particularly in Le Tango du Reve, Mr. Pulido has taken his breath control in hand and given us a magnificent recording of his truly magnificent voice. His baritone is one which, with further development of course, will make some of the Victor Red Seal artists look to their laurels. Indeed, those who wish to hear some fine singing need not look beyond the foreign lists. A most effective accompaniment adds to the appeal of this record, one to be heartily recommended. Mr. Pulido is also heard to advantage in 79371. The leading instrumental is easily 79185, La Demo- cracia marcha by the Banda Internacional, a great piece of band playing and recording which by rights might have been reviewed among the regular releases. The Orquesta Inter- nacional with a selection on the other side of this disk, and both sides of 79186, 79188, 79228, 79230, 79247, 79280, 79294, and 79311 offers some of its best work. Particularly notable are L’Ombra and Cartago (79188), El Tiburon del Parque and Lula (79228), El Pajarote (79230), and La Provincianita —camel trot and Criollito—tango (79311). Lula in particular is exceptional both in performance and recording. The Banda Especial de la Guarnicion de Mexico is up to its usual stan- dard in 79364 (Gitanillo and La Madre del Cordero); typic- ally fine Mexican band playing! The Orquesta Tipica In- fan til is heard on 79369; the Trovadores Regionales in 79365; Carmen Flores on 78189, 79190, 79329, and 79331; Mary Isaura on 79191 and 79192; Matilde Revenga on 79193; Margarita Cueto (always worth hearing!) on 79283 and 79301; Jose Moriche on one side each of 79301, 79302, and 79315; Mer- cedes Seros on 79332 and 79333; Briceno and Anez on 79291 and 79292; Antonio Utrera on one side of 79302; and Carlos Mejia on one side of 79315. The whole list well repays care- ful study, but the records of Pulido, Banda and Orquesta Internacional, the Banda de Mexico, and Margarita Cueto are outstanding. To close, come two Mexican releases from Okeh, 16579 Marimba-Band “La Joya” de Guatemala in Gualleguita and Sonsa tangos) and a fine Dajos Bela release, Negrito tango and Matador one step. The latter record deserves special praise. THE FOREIGN AND MISCELLANEOUS RE- VIEWS POSTPONED FROM LAST MONTH FOLLOW: SCANDINAVIAN There are two Swedish records from Okeh, the first by the Odeon Orkester of Stockholm (Den svenska underofficeren and Stockholms Blasorkester marches—19212) and the second by Ernest Rolf heard in two popular seaman songs, En a kta sjomansvisa and Hopp och tro, Sjomansvals (1213). Victor offers one vocal (79230), Olle i Skratthult in Fest hos Gustaf- sons and Nar Morsan fyller femtio ar, and three instrumentals, led by 79321, U-bats Valsen and Fran Frisco till Cap, played by Olle i Skratthult’s Luffare Kapell. The other two are 79140 and 79325, the former accordion duets by Sundquist and Olsen (Spa Calsen and Dalbo Drillen—Hambo), the latter accordion solos by Iver Peterson (Niagara Falls Polka and Duluth Valsen). 485 rr m isv The last named record is also included in the Victor Fin- nish releases together with Erik Kivi—the singing violinist— playing Sotiisi and Masuska (79316); Larson and Lutz play- ing Syysruusuj a Valssi and Elama Juoksuhaudassa Valssi for accordion and violin (79357); Kosti Tamminen singing Laulu On Iloni and Tyottaman Valssi—comic songs (79344); and Mme. Kirsti Suonio in Kavi Maantiella Tanssi, Kissanpoika, and Jasja Ja Miina (79358). Mme. Suonio’s record is the most outstanding of the group. GREEK First on the Greek list, which is exclusively Victor, comes Tetos Demetriades in Katrinka and a Greek version of In a Little Spanish Town—which by this time is acquiring a true international flavor! (68805). Lengas, Patsios, and Kokotis, instrumentalists, play Saleanitiko—Siros and Sta Salona —Tsamikos on 68804; Leonidas Smyrnios sings To Neon Jivaeri and E Hira on 68808; S. Stasinopoulos sings Stis Akrivias Ton Kero and Trikaliniamou Perdika on 68810; and Takis Nicolaou couples Ta Sparmatstete and Otan Se blepo ki’ Erhese on 68812. In all of these the oud and san- touri play prominent parts in the accompaniment. Most noteworthy of all the Greek releases is the remaining one in the list, 68809, Amallia Bakas, soprano, singing Paramana Cuna Cuna—Zeibekiko and E Thalassa. POLISH J. S. Zielinski sings Porowania and Chlopcy oj ta dana on Victor 79306; Jan Wanat couples two accordion solos (Szta- jereak No. 2 and W Karpackich Gorach) on 79319; the Orkies- tra Jana Kapalki plays Jak We Snie Wale and Zawijas— Oberek on 79318; and the Orkiestra Witkowskiego plays Kujawiak od Krakowa and Polka zpod Jabloni on 79317. For Okeh, Brominski and Pirand, comedians, couple two sketches (Chrzeiny and Zalacanki organisty) on 11313, and the Nagrane Przez Feltanowskie Trio play Lucia Polka and Zip Oberek on 11312. ITALIAN At the head of the Okeh list 'comes Alfredo Bascetta’s song of Sacco and Vanzetti coupled with ‘E figlie ’e nisciune on 9316. Comm. G. Godono is heard this month in Notte ’a mare and ’A luna e ’o mare (9317); Ruby and De Russo duetize an Italian version of I’ve Never Seen a Straight Banana together with Stornelli Marinari (9318); and Pas- quariello appears on his first electrical record with L’addio di Don Giovanni and LP Italia (9319). For Victor, Antonio Cortis appears on a 10 inch Red Seal record (1240—Si.00) singing Ahi che tormento and Mi svesti from La Cena delle Beffe; a noteworthy release. Gennaro Amato couples Frank’s Affair and Nick Go Buy Some Pepper, comic songs, on 79304; Vincenzo Di Maio sings the Dollar and Sincerity tarantellas on 79305; the Compagnia Comica Victor present two comic sketches (On the Elevated Train and The Amateur Singer) on 79350; and Guido Ciccolini, a new name among the Victor Italian artists, sings the Italian version of In a Little Spanish Town and Tonight You Belong to Me (79309). For instrumental numbers, besides the Creatore band record reviewed elsewhere in this issue, there is a four part recording of the Scene Abbruzzese (79288-9) by the Banda Italiana Reale Marittima Minichini, which de- serves special mention as an outstanding foreign release. The performance and recording are both adequate and the piece itself is quite worthy of attention. The Orchestra Italiana Tafarella plays Dolce Mio Cor and Complimiti on 79327; The Orchestrina Barese Pasquale Acito plays Sospiri d’amore and Momenti Felici on 79347; and Antonio Torre concludes the list with La Fiammetta Mazurka and Amoroso Valzer (79349), for violin with guitar accompaniment. MEXICAN Ed. Lang, well know Okeh guitar virtuoso, issues a special Mexican record in Okeh 16240 (La Mezcolanza de Eduardo and Besos de Abril). There are also two very good band records (16577 and 16578), the former by the La Joya Ma- rimba Band de Guatemala (La Chaparrita and La Hija del Carcelero) and the latter by the Banda Municipal de Bar- celona (El Irresistible and Guayaba tangos); the last record deserves special praise. For Victor Margarita Cueto appears again on 79213 (Tus Ojos and La Casita), and also on 79313 and 79354; on the